"Canadians know what to do to live healthier, longer lives. But there's a huge disconnect between what we think we are doing to address our risk factors and reality," says Dr. Beth Abramson, cardiologist and spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. "The fact is that we're not managing some of the most common and deadly cardiovascular risk factors as well as we think we are. We Canadians are living with a false sense of security that could be fatal."

Is there an app for that? Yes. The Foundation has launched My Heart&Stroke Health App™, a free new mobile App to help Canadians take control of their risks. Download the app at heartandstroke.ca/mobileapps or find it at your iPhone, Blackberry or Android app stores under Health & Fitness. If you don't have a mobile phone, you can take the risk assessment online at heartandstroke.ca/risk

According to a new Heart and Stroke Foundation poll, Canadians are aware of the importance of addressing their risk factors. However, the Foundation poll also showed that Canadians have a false sense of security that is cutting their lives short. They overestimate their own healthy behaviours:

Almost 90 per cent of Canadians rate themselves as healthy. The reality is that nine out of 10 Canadians have at least one risk factor for heart disease and stroke.

Only about a third said they are not physically active or don't eat a minimum of five servings of vegetables and fruit per day. The reality is about half of Canadians don't meet the physical activity and healthy eating recommendations.

Eighteen per cent of Canadian adults say they are obese. The reality is that almost one quarter – 25 per cent – of Canadian adults are obese.

* HSF poll of 2000 Canadians conducted December, 2010; margin of error is +2.2%, 19 times out of 20
** Self-reported data from the 2009 Canadian Community Health Survey
*** Results from the 2007-2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey

Add more quality years to your life
"It's not just years of life that are at stake," explains Dr. Abramson. "It's healthy quality years that can be gained. By being physically active, you gain close to four years of life – three of those free of heart disease and stroke."

"Living longer isn't much fun if you don't have your health," she adds. Making healthier choices and controlling the modifiable risk factors are key to extending quality years of life.

Time to take action
“Reducing heart disease risks is everyone's responsibility,” says Linda Piazza, director of health policy for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. This includes the public, physicians, health organizations and government.

Canadians tend to expect that their healthcare professionals will inform them about their heart disease risks, but the Foundation poll found that many healthcare professionals didn't discuss or measure some of the important risk factors with their patients.

According to the poll, eight in 10 Canadians reported that their healthcare professional had measured their blood pressure within the past year, however only three out of 10 patients had their waists measured. For more information on how to measure your waist, go to heartandstroke.ca/healthywaists.

The poll also found that five out of 10 Canadians had not been asked by their healthcare provider about their diet or family history of heart disease or stroke. Read the full report. Says Dr. Abramson. "Both patients and physicians have a responsibility to discuss the prevention and management of chronic disease by raising these questions."

What the Heart and Stroke Foundation is doing to help Canadians
Knowing that Canadians need help in improving their heart health, the Foundation has been hard at work developing free e-tools, health promotion initiatives and programs. "We know how to prevent heart disease and stroke. Our goal is to take advantage of this knowledge to help Canadians avoid a decline into illness," says Dr. Marco di Buono, Heart and Stroke Foundation director of research.

Sharing The Heart Truth
Women can find out more about their special heart-health risks and challenges by visiting TheHeartTruth.ca.

Supporting local communities
Foundation offices in dozens of major cities and hundreds of small towns across the country provide information. Call 1-888-HSF-INFO.

Advocating for our youth
Children's health is a Foundation priority across the country. Our provincial Foundations continue to advocate for a wide variety of initiatives including healthy eating classes, walk-to school programs and active recreation development. heartandstroke.ca/healthykids.

Funding world-class research
More than 900 Foundation researchers and teams across the country are working on prevention, treatment and rehabilitation solutions so that Canadians can live longer, healthier lives.

Reaching out to our diverse communities
The Foundation works with Canada's multicultural populations – South Asians, Chinese, Aboriginal, among others – to bring awareness to their increased risk of heart disease and stroke. heartandstroke.ca/multicultural.